Biography Quiz: Indian Musician Bismillah Khan

Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi due to its association with immoral activities like snake charming.

A shehnai is different from a pungi as it is a wind instrument with a sweeter sound, traditionally played in auspicious occasions like weddings.

The shehnai was traditionally played in temples. Bismillah Khan changed this by popularizing it in secular spaces like concerts and events.

<p>Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1937 when he played at the All India Music Conference in Calcutta.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947, marking India's independence. The event was historic as it symbolized the country's freedom.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he believed the shehnai belonged to the soil of India and no other place.</p> Signup and view all the answers